Welcome to the Ullapool News

ARTISTS IN THE INACCESSIBLE
Painters and Paintings of the Far North West of Scotland
Discover the artists who were captivated by the wild landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.
Join author and collector Alastair Mitchell for a fascinating illustrated talk exploring paintings of Sutherland and Ross-shire, from the 18th century
to the present day.
Saturday 24 October 2026 | 7.30pm–9.00pm
Venue: Ullapool Museum, 8 West Argyle Street, Ullapool

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Ullapool Bookshop Event.

THE MACLEAN BROTHERS    Three Brothers in a Boat .

A true story of adventure and purpose rowing the Pacific

Talk, refreshments and book signing on Wednesday 21st October 5.30p.m.

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THANKS To All SUPPORTERS

From the Ullapool Book Festival Committee for attending their last ever event.

From the Coigach Half Marathon Committee to the 108 participants and the army of volunteers who all braved the weather to make it a success.

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SCOTTISH WILDLIFE TRUST   Scotland’s red squirrel celebration

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels is running eighth annual Great Scottish Squirrels this week, and everyone can get involved from 5 – 11 October, with the aim of counting as many red squirrels as possible.  Last year over 1,500 squirrels were recorded.

Squirrels spotted anywhere in the country, from back gardens and busy urban areas, to the more remote parts of Scotland, can be reported to SSRS via https://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/

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IT’S BEEN WET —— 2026  – September Rainfall – 179.5mm

2025 was only 90.5mm.  Monthly average for Sept 123.2mm

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Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme

Charity Advice Direct Scotland has managed this fund on behalf of the Scottish Government since it opened on 1 April. Vulnerable families who have oil or LiquefiedPetroleum Gas (LPG) heating can get £300 towards their energy bills. The scheme was due to end on 30 September, but was recently extended into the winter months while heating oil and LPG prices continue to be volatile.

People on the following benefits should qualify: Universal Credit, Scottish Child Payment, Housing Benefit, IncomeSupport, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-based Employment and Support Allowance, and PensionCredit. Those in financial hardship who are at risk of cutting back on heat due to rising costs, and who are classed as vulnerable, may also qualify for the scheme.

Applications can be made via homeheatingadvice.scot, by calling 0800 048 7413, or by sending a form in the post.

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Apology

Thank you Iain and Shona for correcting the error in last week’s issue.  We were keen to get such a momentous and upsetting occurrence into the Ullapool News and in the absence of information being sent directly from the Coigach community and with our Tuesday deadline approaching when we heard the news we made use of Facebook!

This week letter from Coigach (abridged)

Dear Editor,

The Coigach community and members of CoigachHeritage far and wide were dealt a dreadful blow in the early hours of Monday 28th September when the old Achiltibuie Drill Hall was burnt to the ground.
Built in 1915, the building has played its part in Coigach life for generations, from training our men to go off to fight in WW1 to being our village hall for years to its latest rolehousing Coigach Heritage and the Coigach Kitchen restaurant. …..

Back in the 1970s, some of us were lucky enough to see 7:84’s performance of ‘The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil’ there which included a telling of Coigach’s historic Clearance resistance which we now celebrate through our landscape memorial, Lorg na Coigich, unveiled in July.

The hall was built by the Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association and bought from them in 1959 through community fundraising. A trust was set up to manage the building on behalf of the people of Coigach at that time. ….
Coigach Heritage’s project to display heritage items had barely commenced when the fire struck, and though we have lost some of our archives and other material, much is safely stored elsewhere.

We would like to thank all those who have sent messages of support to Coigach Heritage and to the fire service for their efforts in containing the blaze.

It needs to be made clear that despite what was reported in last week’s Ullapool News, Scottish Wildlife Trust had no involvement with the hall and had no office or archives there.

Iain Muir,  Chair, Coigach Heritage SCIO